10 Dorm Room Essentials

​​​​​There are about a million websites with overly-detailed packing lists for living in a dorm (here​ is one), but you really don’t need to bring much more than the basics (here​). Try to take the less-is-more approach so you won’t overwhelm yourself or your roommates when it comes time to move.

The following items are 10 things I wish someone would have told me to pack before moving on campus, as I ended up buying all of them at some point during the year. While you might not use them every day, I can guarantee you will need them at some point. Save yourself time and effort and be prepared from the start!

Desk lamp

Get a small lamp to fit place on your desk. It’s a great thing to have when your roommates are sleeping and you don’t want to turn on the overhead light.

HDMI cord

I loved having an HDMI cord to connect my laptop to my TV whenever I wanted to watch Netflix. Everyone else on my floor loved it too, because people would ask to borrow it every day. I should’ve started charging for it, actually...

Surge protector

There are outlets in your room already, but a surge protector is a nice way to keep yourself from tripping over cords hooked up to various outlets around the room. Speaking from experience here.

Small trash can

While DePaul is kind enough to provide every room with both a trash can and recycling bin, it’s nice to have your own to put right next to your desk.

Over-the-door hanger

I loved having one of these to put my coats and backpack on. An easy way to ensure that your floor is not full of various items of clothing and bags.

​Hanging shoe organizer

Sure, you could scatter your shoes all over your area of the closet, or you could conveniently organize them in a shoe hanger.

Lint roller

A lint roller was one of the first things I purchased after moving in. Using a roll of tape to get all of the lint off of my black dress was a traumatic experience. Learn from my failure.

A sharp knife

I personally cooked a lot while living in the dorms, and there is NOTHING worse than cutting vegetables with a butter knife. A sharp knife is super handy if you’re going to cook anything - and you should cook!

Can opener

This is pretty self-explanatory, but a can opener is always useful.

Basic cleaning supplies

You certainly do not need to bring every cleaning product available at the store, but Clorox wipes and Lysol are both good ideas.

Of course, this is not a comprehensive list. Start with the basics, add some of these, and wait until you move in to purchase too much more. Luckily, there are dozens of different stores in Chicago that can help you find anything you might have missed or something you might need later in the year.